Summary
- Dwayne Johnson's career boasts a surprising trend of appearing in six jungle-themed films over two decades in Hollywood.
- From "The Rundown" to "Jungle Cruise," Johnson's versatility shines in action and adventure roles set in lush jungle environments.
- Hollywood seems to love throwing the wrestler-turned-actor into the foliage, with the success of films like "Jumanji" proving his jungle appeal.
From famous wrestler to iconic actor, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson boasts a long list of roles, in projects ranging from pure action to heartwarming kids' stories but a surprising trend comes in a mini-genre some call The Rock jungle movie. So far, with over 20 years in the industry, Johnson has appeared in an astounding six films that take place in the jungle. While the films range from comedy to adventure, they all share a similar setting and Dwayne Johnson is one of the lead actors.
It's unclear why so many of Dwayne Johnson's many movies take place in the jungle. What's even stranger is that this trend is not just a recent phenomenon among his newest projects, but started as early as 2003. In this way, Johnson has been traversing dense jungles in movies for two decades now. Either way, it seems that Hollywood enjoys throwing the wrestler-turned-actor into the foliage, and he doesn't seem to mind too much either.
All 9 Dwayne Johnson Movie Villains, Ranked Worst To Best
While not commonly known for playing villains, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has occasionally showcased his darker side with more sinister movie roles.
6 The Rundown (2003)
A Bounty Hunting Mission Heads To The Jungle
One of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's earliest major roles, The Rundown follows Johnson as Beck, a reserved and physically menacing bounty hunter who is tasked with retrieving his employer's son (Sean William Scott) from the Amazon rain forest. Unsurprisingly, this seemingly simple task is made more complicated when a controlling treasure hunter and his lackeys try to prevent Beck from leaving.
The action sequences all take place in the jungle setting, setting the stage for what would become a staple of Johnson's career.
With the help of a beautiful rebel played by Rosario Dawson, Beck and his ward fight to get back home. The action sequences all take place in the jungle setting, setting the stage for what would become a staple of Johnson's career. Some of the strongest reviews for this movie praised the jungle backdrop, allowing the film to stand out visually in a crowded genre. It is such an important part of the movie that the film is titled Welcome to the Jungle in some international markets, which also previews Johnson's work in the Jumanji franchise.
5 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)
A Jungle-Themed Adventure Sequel
journey 2: the mysterious island
- Director
- Brad Peyton
- Release Date
- February 12, 2012
- Cast
- Dwayne Johnson , Josh Hutcherson , Vanessa Hudgens , Michael Caine
- Runtime
- 94minutes
Nearly a decade after The Rundown, Johnson made his return to the jungle in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. Acting as a sequel to 2008's, Journey to the Center of the Earth, this film depicts Josh Hutcherson's Sean, a brainy teenager, noticing a distress signal coming from an island that shouldn't exist. Alongside his step-father, Dwayne Johnson, and a local helicopter pilot (Luis Guzmán), and his daughter (Vanessa Hudgens), Sean travels to this island to uncover the mystery of its single human inhabitant.
With this fictional island supposedly set in the South Pacific, Johnson is back in the jungle for a more kid-friendly experience. Even more than his 2003 project, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island lines up Johnson's future in this genre thanks to the action being aimed at audiences of all ages. This film also again puts him at the center of a group that includes a funnyman (Guzmán and, previously, Scott), which he'd go on to do several times with Kevin Hart. Journey 2 received middling reviews but was mostly seen as a fun romp.